Читать книгу A Forever Home - Lynn Patrick - Страница 13

CHAPTER THREE

HEATHER PUT A tuna casserole into the oven. She was grateful that Rick had come through for her and that she and her crew had been able to make short work of cutting out the two areas for rain gardens. Now she wondered what she could do to properly thank the man. Not that she had time to think about The Terminator at the moment. The nickname made her smile, made her want to think more about the resourceful man.

But right now, she had to concentrate on getting Addison and Taylor fed. Which meant making a salad to go with the casserole. A salad they would complain and fuss about before she got them to eat it. She fetched lettuce and a tomato, then carrots from the fridge and took them all to the sink, where she rinsed everything off. Addison loved carrots and Taylor could be bribed to eat them with a little French dressing on the side. She glanced around. The kitchen could use a makeover, but thankfully, it was spacious enough to be eat-in. The house was a neat bungalow with a living room, kitchen, two bedrooms and a single bath. All she’d been able to afford using her late husband’s life insurance.

A screech from outside made her wonder what was going on now. Apparently a morning of school followed by an afternoon of day camp wasn’t enough to wear out the twins. She grabbed a bowl and a cutting board and began chopping. The girls were playing in the backyard, and from the sound of their squeals and heated words, they had energy to spare.

Putting together the salad, Heather couldn’t even remember what that kind of energy felt like. Although she loved her time with the girls, they took everything out of her. She simply couldn’t keep up with them no matter how hard she tried. At one point when she was managing her Aunt Margaret’s store, she’d considered giving up on school. But then her sister, Kristen, had returned to Sparrow Lake and taken over Sew Fine. Having lost her fancy marketing job in Chicago, Kristen hadn’t known what she wanted to do at first but, luckily, her family and a new romance with the town’s police chief meant she was in Sparrow Lake to stay, and Heather was thankful for that.

She smiled wanly, thinking about how gladly she’d stepped down from the store manager job and taken the easier one of overseeing online sales. Much of which she could do at home after the twins were in bed. The only problem now was money. They were living on an even tighter budget than before.

A budget that would have been ruined if she’d had to pay to repair the sod cutter.

Rick crept into her thoughts despite her determination. There was just something about him...

And he certainly had come to her rescue this morning. Nothing she did could possibly convey her gratitude because she was hoping this internship would be the turning point in her life. If EPI hired her full time, she could give up working for Sew Fine for a fulfilling job with enough pay and benefits that she could finally relax. Then she would have more time to concentrate on the girls.

Which sounded like heaven after the past four years of pushing, pushing, pushing. Whoever had thought it was possible to “do it all,” especially if you were a single mom, was deluded. Yeah, you could do it all if you didn’t mind feeling like a zombie half the time. Her own mother had remarried and moved to California about the same time Scott had died, so Heather had been on her own.

“Hey, look what we got!”

Hearing Taylor’s chirpy voice, Heather smiled and turned to see. But though her daughters were both beaming at her, her own smile quickly evaporated. Standing between them was a scruffy dog with orange-brown and white fur and a pointed nose. The same dog who’d been watching them get into the SUV that morning.

“Whose dog is that?” Heather had hoped it belonged to a neighbor and had simply been wandering around.

“He’s ours!” Addison said. “We found him!”

Heather shook her head. “Oh, no, he’s not ours.”

“Yes, he is, and he’s starving.” Taylor went to the refrigerator and pulled out a package of turkey slices. “He needs to eat.”

Heather was about to say no when she took a better look at the dog. He did seem a little thin and he was staring at that package of lunch meat with the most hopeful expression on his sad little face. “Okay, one slice of turkey.”

But when the dog practically swallowed the slice whole, Taylor pulled out another and gave that one to him, too, saying, “His name is Kirby.”

“Sweetheart, don’t give him a name because we’re not going to keep him.”

“Why not?” Addison asked. “He’s real nice.”

Watching the dog devour a third slice of meat, Heather said, “I’m sure he is. But—”

“C’mon, Mom,” Taylor wheedled.

“I don’t have time to take care of a dog.”

Or the money. Being a responsible owner meant paying for shots and vet bills in addition to food, and the family budget was at the straining point now. Not that she wanted to burden her six-year-olds with her financial worries.

“I’ll take care of him by myself!” Taylor insisted.

“No,” Addison protested, “I’ll help.”

Heather knew Taylor couldn’t take care of the dog herself, not even with Addison’s help. The twins didn’t have that kind of focus yet. When something interested them, it was only for a short while. And then they moved on to the next thing.

“You can take care of him for tonight. But tomorrow, I’m driving him to the local shelter. They’ll either find his real owner...or they’ll find him a good home.”

“Mo-o-om!” the twins cried in unison.

“That’s enough.” Noticing the lunch meat package was empty, Heather said, “Well, it seems the dog has had his dinner.” She pulled a bowl out of the cabinet and filled it with water. “Now it’s time for you to get ready for yours. Go wash your hands so you can set the table.”

She put down the bowl of water out of the line of traffic. The dog immediately stuck his muzzle in and started drinking as he gazed up at her with shiny brown eyes. He was such a cutie. She couldn’t help herself. She patted his side. Whistling through his nose, the dog immediately whipped his head around and licked her hand. She melted inside just a little.

“Don’t worry, boy. I’ll make sure you get a home.”

As long as it wasn’t hers.

* * *

AN HOUR LATER, the kitchen was clean and Heather was on the computer, which she had set up in the bay window area of the living room. Someday it would be nice to have a bigger place, one with a real office space. She was going through Sew Fine’s newest online orders and figuring out what supplies she would need to order to replenish stock.

Directly after dinner, the twins had absconded with the dog to their room. Heather could hear them now, talking to him and giggling. She smiled sadly. They were having a good time, and she hoped their little hearts wouldn’t be broken when they had to give up the dog in the morning.

Hearing a vehicle stop in front of the house, she left the computer to see who it was. To her surprise, her sister was coming up the walk. Wearing a lavender dress and four-inch heels to match and her blond hair gathered in a sleek ponytail, Kristen was carrying a dress bag. Apparently, she was delivering Heather’s bridesmaid’s dress. Kristen and Alex’s wedding date was approaching all too rapidly.

Heather opened the door. “Hey, Kristen, what a great surprise.” They hugged, and she took the dress bag from her sister. “You didn’t have to deliver the dress, though. I could have picked it up myself.”

“But then I wouldn’t have been able to see my favorite nieces,” Kristen said as the twins came running out of their bedroom, the dog on their heels.

“Aunt Kristen!” they yelled together, each twin launching herself onto Kristen, who laughed and gave them big hugs.

The dog stopped short and started barking.

Kristen started. “Whoa, what’s this?”

“Our new dog,” Addison said.

Before Heather could object, Taylor added, “His name is Kirby.”

Over the twins’ heads, Kristen locked gazes with her. Heather squinched up her face and shook her head No. In return, Kristen rolled her eyes.

“Girls, give your aunt some breathing room. It’s time to take your baths.” When Taylor’s face lit up, Heather clarified, “I mean the two of you, not the dog. You’re not to let him in the tub. Understood?”

Taylor’s face fell. “Okay.”

“While the tub is filling, get your pajamas ready and brush your hair and teeth. And don’t get in until I tell you it’s okay.”

She let them wash themselves now but not without supervision.

The girls flew to the bathroom, the dog trotting behind.

“You actually think they’re not going to let their four-legged friend get in with them?” Kristen asked, laughing. “I remember that time I babysat and gave them a bath. When my back was turned, they brought every doll and toy horse into the tub, even though I told them not to.”

Hearing the water running, Heather laughed. “I’d like to say they’re more mature than they were a year ago, but that’s wishful thinking. Maybe I’d better get the dog and keep him with us in case they get any ideas.”

She went into the bedroom, where the girls were tossing their pajamas back and forth over the dog’s head so that he kept jumping, trying to get the clothes whipping through the air.

“Enough. I’m going to take the dog into the other room with Aunt Kristen.” She looked straight at the dog and tapped her leg. “C’mon. C’mon, boy.” He sat down. She patted her leg again. “Let’s go.” She whistled. “C’mon, boy.” He yawned.

“His name is Kirby,” Taylor sing-songed, and the dog got to his feet and trotted over to her. “See?”

Naming him was a mistake, but what else could she do? “C’mon...Kirby.”

The dog now came to her. Heather patted him on the head. “Let’s go see Aunt Kristen.”

By the time she got to the living room, Kirby trotting ahead of her and looking back to make sure she was coming, Kristen had already opened the garment bag to reveal the bridesmaid’s dress made of sheer apricot-colored material.

“Oh, it’s gorgeous.”

“You need to try it on,” Kristen said, handing it to her. “I want to make sure it’s perfect.”

“I’m not the bride. You’re the one who has to look perfect.” And Kristen would look perfect, Heather thought, having seen the elegant cream-colored wedding dress at Kristen’s last fitting.

“But you’re my matron of honor and my sister. We have to look perfect together.”

“Okay, I’ll try on the dress.”

Heather and Kristen started for the bedroom with Kirby next to Heather, bumping against her legs as they passed the bathroom. The bathtub water was running and the girls were in their room, giggling.

“Teeth!” she reminded them before closing her bedroom door. She was already removing her sweatshirt. “I haven’t had a dress that fancy in...well, never.”

Kristen laughed. “Then it’s about time.”

Amazingly, the dress fit Heather perfectly, though the fancy style felt a bit foreign to her.

“It looks great on you,” Kristen said.

Heather checked herself out in the full-length mirror on the back of a door. Kirby parked himself next to her, and she thought the color of his fur was almost the same color as the dress.

“It is nice,” she had to admit, “even if it isn’t me.”

“How did I ever get a sister so uninterested in clothes?”

“How did I ever get one so interested in labels?” Heather came back.

Luckily, Kristen had insisted on buying the garment for Heather. Or rather, Kristen and Alex. Between the two of them, they could afford it. Not that Heather still didn’t feel a little guilty. She promised herself she’d make it up to both of them someday.

Kristen asked, “You don’t hate the dress, do you?”

“No. It’s very pretty.” Heather smoothed the fabric of the skirt with her hands. “I just don’t look like me wearing it. I’m more comfortable in jeans and a T-shirt or sweater. And I’m going to have to do something with my hair. The color is so mousy against the bright apricot.”

“Your hair is shiny and thick,” Kristen said, “but I do wonder how a shade lighter would look on you.”

“I actually thought about putting in some blond highlights.”

Kristen grinned. “Now that’s the spirit! You haven’t exactly been enthusiastic about this wedding—”

“No! You know I like Alex.” And she was thrilled to see her older sister so happy. “I’ve just been too busy to enjoy things as much as I would like.”

Heather took off the dress and carefully hung it up. She listened for the girls. The water was still running, but she didn’t hear their voices. She opened the door. “What are you two up to?” she called.

“Brushing teeth,” one of the twins answered, sounding as if the toothbrush were in her mouth.

“Okay, I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.” Closing the door again, she said, “You and Alex make the perfect couple, and I’m so happy for you.” She pulled her old clothes back on. “I just don’t want the relatives who’ll come in for the wedding pitying me or something.”

“Pitying you? Why would they?”

“You know, because I’m a widow and all.”

Heather opened the nightstand drawer where she still kept a small photo of her late husband. She ran a fingertip around his face. Her memories of Scott were getting a little hazy, so every night before she went to bed, she looked at the photo and called up a nice memory of the two of them together.

Heather went on. “I know they’re going to ask me about Scott—how he died, how I’m doing without him, how my poor girls are doing growing up without a father.”

And what could she say? She still missed him. The girls missed him, Taylor especially. She’d watched that DVD so many times that Heather was beginning to worry it wasn’t healthy for her daughter. Still she couldn’t take the little girl’s Daddy away from her.

“Wow,” Kristen mused, “you’ve imagined a whole scenario with the relatives.”

“Do you have a better one for me?”

“Yeah, bring a date. With you on another man’s arm, they won’t be able to ask you about Scott.”

“Except that I’m not dating anyone.”

And hadn’t ever dated any other man in her whole life other than Scott. Part of her didn’t want to. His death had left her so brokenhearted that she couldn’t ever see herself taking another chance on love.

“So start dating,” Kristen insisted. “Aunt Margaret invited John to be her date.”

“I’m glad they connected. It’s nice to know it’s never too late for love.”

Aunt Margaret was nearing seventy and John was five years older. They’d only met the summer before, but they made a perfect couple. Heather had to admit she envied that. She just didn’t know if she was ready for another relationship.

“It’s not too late for you, either,” Kristen was saying. “You could start slow. If you’re uncomfortable calling it a date, ask a male friend to accompany you.”

“I can’t think of anyone to ask.”

The only single man of an appropriate age she’d met lately was The Terminator, and he certainly wasn’t her type. She was glad when the girls yelled, “Mo-o-om!” and knocked the image of him right out of her head.

“Bath time,” she told Kristen.

“And time for me to leave.”

Heather opened the bedroom door and saw the twins wedged in the bathroom doorway.

“C’mon, Mommy,” Addison said. “Bath time!”

Taylor echoed her twin. “Bath time!”

“Give me just a minute to see your aunt to the front door.”

Kristen was already halfway there, the dog shadowing her. She stopped and gave Heather a quick hug. “Just remember what I said about asking someone to accompany you to the wedding.”

“I doubt I’ll be able to forget.”

An image of Rick Slater was in her mind again, tempting Heather as Kristen left, and she closed and locked the front door behind her sister.

She hesitated just a moment to think about Rick...to wonder what he might look like without those sunglasses...

What sounded like a tidal wave accompanied by little girl squeals brought her around.

“What’s going on?” she yelled before realizing the dog had disappeared.

It seemed everyone was getting a bath tonight.

* * *

WAKING IN THE middle of the night had become an unwelcome habit for Cora. And it didn’t take an unusual sound to rouse her from sleep. It was simply the expectation of some sort of noise occurring. Tonight she didn’t remember anything unusual. She awakened, lay there for a while, then rose to fix some chamomile tea in the little electric teapot she’d set up in her bathroom. The teapot made things easier in that she didn’t have to leave her suite. A small nightlight made the bedside lamp unnecessary.

Sitting in the comfortable chair beside the bank of windows, she sipped her tea and watched flashes of lightning illuminate the sky over the lake, followed by a rumble of thunder. A storm was brewing. Perhaps it had simply been thunder that had invaded her dreams.

She hated having to be on guard all the time.

At least a private investigator was now in residence.

Not that he could be everywhere at once.

A cool breeze that smelled of fresh rain lifted the curtains. Thinking that perhaps she ought to lower the windows, Cora put down her cup, rose and leaned on the sill.

Storms over the lake had always fascinated her, so she didn’t immediately adjust the windows. Instead, she looked out from her attic-level quarters, which gave her a perfect view of the show. For a moment she was mesmerized by the electric light dancing in the sky.

Until another movement closer by captured her attention.

She dropped her gaze to search for the source.

Lightning flashed again and she could see the second-floor balcony and the small wiry man with red hair standing on end who perched there, back stiff, body wired with tension.

With a start, she thought she recognized him. Red Flanagan?

Could it be? He certainly reminded her of the man in the portrait hung in the rotunda.

Shocked, Cora gripped the windowsill and held her breath.

The sky went dark and she blinked several times, then took another look that made her stomach whirl.

The balcony stood empty.

Lightning flashed again, confirming that no one was there now...if anyone had ever been there at all. She’d thought the intruder was a flesh-and-blood man. But now she wondered. Surely no one these days could look exactly like an eighty-year-old portrait.

Trembling from the inside out, she closed the windows, and with shaking hands, locked them.

Not that locked windows could stop a ghost...